It’s a long way from Porkie Pies

We were treated to a spectacle of the usual with cream on top via Pat "judicial review" Kenny and his new vehicle The Frontline. Have a click here and fast forward to 30 minutes and watch the video until it hits 35 minutes and then put yourself out of your misery. If you really want to punish yourself then watch Lucinda at 17 minutes. She reads off a page rather than memorising a few lines which I thought we learned to do in school. And makes lots of mistakes along the way. Bill Cullen ...

Freedom for sale

Freedom for Sale A book by a liberal journalist turned Human rights campaigner gives a good view of the current political reality. Taking in Singapore, USA, Russia, China, Italy, UAE and Britain it shows generally what we all know already. Britain, the surveillance state is one we know about already. The author asked to have a look at the place in London that is the  headquarters for camera surveillance. He didn't think they'd be to eager to show him but they were delighted. Inside a shabby b...

What is Racism?

"I can't think of any issue which is more timely or important today than the issue of racism. I also can't think of another issue which is more artificial, manufactured or manipulated than this whole construct called 'racism'." US film-maker, Craig Bodeker Has anyone else besides myself and Craig Bodeker become suspicious of 'racism'? Personally I have been growing suspicious of the word for a long time and there can be little doubt that it is one of the vaguest, pernicious and useless ...

George Lee’s Resignation

Regarding yesterday's news of George Lee's resignation some would say that with his resignation comes further confirmation that our political system is dysfunctional and needs fixing. In this they may be right, at least in part, but I have come to a different conclusion. Mr. Lee has has given us insight into Irish politics and thus provided us with evidence (not that more evidence was needed) that the politicians who vie for power are not suited to the job. My conclusion is that while our poli...

What’s in your water?

Ireland's Campaign for Fluoride-Free Water "Fluoride-Free Water does not believe it is safe to drink tap water in Ireland which has been fluoridated. Why not? We believe that drinking the chemicals used in fluoridation is an unecessary risk to health. According to the Department of Health and Children report, Forum on Fluoridation Ireland 2002, "Roughly 50% of an absorbed amount of fluoride will be excreted in the urine during the following 24 hours and most of the remainder...

Reeling in the years to resurrect forgotten Ireland

It's Ireland as recorded by the cameras from an age before TV news channels and the internet. One of the oldest media companies in the world, Pathe was established in Paris in the 1890s and by 1910 was producing its famous bi-weekly newsreel the 'Pathe Gazette' in Britain. The company also boasted an Irish edition, whose archives stretch as far back as Queen Victoria's visit to Ireland in 1900. And the cameras kept rolling through the War Of Independence, the foundation of the State, the Blue...

A Lesson from history

Herbert Moore Pim was raised in Lisburn, Antrim. Raised Presbyterian he converted to Catholicism. In his thirties he became an Irish Nationalist, or ,appeared to be.  He was given a high degree of trust and informed of the plans for 1916. His house was used to stockpile arms before they were issued to the Volunteers. At this point, he decides he wants out and under death threats runs off to the heart of Empire, London. He then became a staunch Unionist, writing for a journal. One of his attempt...